Thalassa
Thalassa Phinisi
Kalong Island at dusk: flying foxes seen from the deck
Updated 23 October 2026
Kalong is a mangrove islet where thousands of flying foxes roost, and they leave in a long stream about 15 minutes after sunset, over roughly 30 minutes. The stop closes day 1 of the Thalassa 3D2N. The show is watched from the boat, not from a landing.
The stream at dusk
Kalong is not a landing. The boat anchors off the mangroves and the whole show happens above the deck. Thousands of flying foxes hang in the mangrove during the day, and about 15 minutes after sunset they lift off in a long stream that crosses the water toward the main islands. It goes on for roughly 30 minutes.
On the Thalassa 3D2N and the 2D1N, Kalong closes the first day. The boat arrives in the last light, the sun goes down and the bats follow it. Dinner on board comes after.
Arrive early. The first wings are the best part, and a guest who comes up from a cabin in the middle of the show has missed the start of it.
- Best window
- Sunset
- Difficulty
- easy
- Tide
- Not tide-dependent
- Busiest months
- July, August, December
What it is not: bats leave at dusk, about 15 minutes after sunset: arrive early · not a landing stop: the show is watched from the boat
| Month | Sunset | Bats fly from about |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18:27 | 18:42 |
| February | 18:26 | 18:41 |
| March | 18:15 | 18:30 |
| April | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| May | 17:49 | 18:04 |
| June | 17:50 | 18:05 |
| July | 17:57 | 18:12 |
| August | 18:00 | 18:15 |
| September | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| October | 17:55 | 18:10 |
| November | 18:01 | 18:16 |
| December | 18:14 | 18:29 |
Computed for the location; accurate to a few minutes. The crew shifts wake-up with the actual swell.
Sunset table by month
Sunset at Kalong falls between 17:49 and 18:27 across the year. The table below shows sunset by month, and the bats leave about 15 minutes after the time shown.
Sunsets come earliest in the middle of the year and the latest at its start and end, so the hour of the show moves by about 40 minutes across the calendar.
Arrival is timed by the captain so the boat is anchored before the first light goes.
Photo supplied by the boats' owner · 5 photos
Where the table is laid
Evening on the Thalassa boats is built around the deck. On Thalassa 1 the guests sit at the dining table with up to 11 places, and on Thalassa 2 the group of up to 27 shares the dining room and sundeck. The crew sets the dinner hour with the group.
A drink in hand and a jacket for the wind are the two things worth bringing up. The air cools quickly once the sun is down, and the open deck feels it first.
Kalong closes the sightseeing day, and that says nothing about where the boat moors; we promise no position for the night.
A long lens for thirty minutes of wings
Bats on the wing are far enough from the boat that a phone picture shows dots. A zoom or a long lens and a charged battery change that. Hold the camera on the sky above the mangrove and let the stream run through the frame.
A tripod is a poor idea on a moving deck. Brace on the rail and shoot at a fast shutter speed. Leave the flash off, because it unsettles the animals.
Flying foxes are shy, and the boat keeps its distance. Park entry is paid per person per day, IDR 250,000 for foreign visitors and IDR 50,000 for Indonesian citizens on weekdays, and it is never part of the fare.
FAQ
When do the bats leave Kalong?
Roughly 15 minutes after the sun goes down, and the stream of wings keeps coming for about 30 minutes. Sunset falls between 17:49 and 18:27 through the year, so the departure moves with the month. The boat anchors in time for the first wings, and the whole show is watched from the deck, with no landing.
Which day of the 3D2N is Kalong on?
Day 1. The route runs Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong on the first day, and Kalong closes it at dusk. The 2D1N also ends its first day here, after Kelor and Manjarite. Day 2 of both routes starts on the Padar ridge before breakfast.
Do guests land on Kalong?
No. The show is watched from the boat, and the islet is a mangrove with no landing. The deck is the viewpoint, which is why the stop fits a phinisi better than a day trip. The crew keeps the lights low so the animals leave on their own time.
What should I bring for the bats?
Bring a camera with a zoom, a charged battery, a light layer for the wind and a drink. A phone picture shows dots at this distance. Brace your arms on the rail for steady pictures. Leave the flash off, because it unsettles the animals.
Check availability: Thalassa
Thalassa is published and booked by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, a booking partner for Thalassa 1 and Thalassa 2. The boats belong to their owner.